Friday, June 3, 2016

Teaching them right at Windham Middle School - By Stephen Signor

Our children are the next generation inheritors
of Planet Earth. While we have heard this over and over, how many parents have
actually had the time or taken the steps necessary to remind children of their
role in the future. By what means have we instilled the importance of how
everything they do can have some kind of impact on their environment? Well, what
better way to prepare them than give them an out of classroom experience. To
this end I offer kudos to Windham Middle School and the participating teachers
of Grade 6.

I often walk the grounds that encompass
Windham High School. In particular I find myself heading toward the woods and
the trail system behind the athletic fields that border Windham Center Road. On
one particular day I would not be alone.

You see, Earth Rock Day was being held
and the area was buzzing with sixth graders getting their brains jump started
on nature. More than that, they were being mentored on the science of our
planet.

Along the cross country trail and
adjacent to Pleasant River students were divided into small groups. From
tectonic plates to fish and plants they learned how we are affected by Mother
Nature; more importantly how to treat the environment around them. Emphasis was
highly placed on how precious our natural resources are, how they are being
destroyed and more importantly how we all can do our part to prevent and hopefully
squelch the consequences.

As I took great time in completing my
walking loop it was encouraging to see the overall participation by students in
this all day event and the genuine interest I could see on their faces. I could
not help but smile at them.